Signs of improvement: Survival remains the main goal for Florian Kohfeldt and his team, however since the 35-year-old has taken over the table situation has improved and is now looking somewhat rosy. Since Flo took over, the Green-Whites have picked up 28 points and in a table since then would sit nicely in 5th place. Meanwhile Frankfurt just about better Werder’s tally with 30 points and would be 3rd in such a table.
Good news! “I have now seen nearly all of the players that were away on international duty and those that I have not seen I have spoken to,” explained Kohfeldt. “They have all come back healthy from their international fixtures.” This includes Milos Veljkovic who went away injured but has come back in better shape. The centre back missed the away game to Augsburg after having played incredibly well and getting his first Bundesliga goal the week before against Köln. One doubt for the game against Frankfurt is Jerome Gondorf who underwent an appendix operation a few weeks ago but was back in team training on Wednesday and so it is yet to be decided whether he will feature. “We will wait to make the decision with Jerome; wait and see how his body reacts to the next couple of training sessions,” said Kohfeldt on the player's progression. “Everyone else however is fighting fit and I’m approaching the game with the intention of everyone staying that way.”
Florian Kohfeldt on the game: “It will be a really tough game,” said Kohfeldt before the Easter Sunday game. “Frankfurt are consistent and have picked up points all the way through the season. They are not a side that has had real highs and lows but has been ever present,” declared the Werder head coach. The Werder team however will not be looking to hide from such a challenge; they have looked at their opponents strengths as well as their weaknesses and will know where they are looking to hurt them. “They press high and are very aggressive. Ante Rebic and Marius Wold are two very fast players, that always look to get in behind the lines,” explained Kohfeldt. The Werder players will therefore have a clear game plan in order to be successful. “It is so important that we are patient in our play and that we don’t back out of a single battle. We want to give them as little room as possible.” Even though this Frankfurt side are Champions League hopefuls, the Green-Whites are resolute in their desire to walk away with the three points, “The plan is clear; we want to win,” said Kohfeldt.
